Karen Boardman

Karen Boardman started her music career at the age of nineteen when she decided to make her constant attendance at The Hacienda official, persuading the management to give her a job.

Over the next couple of years, she helped look after a host of visiting bands including Depeche Mode, Echo and The Bunnymen and Madonna. She eventually moved to London after landing a job at London Records working with the likes of Salt n Pepper, Voice of the Beehive and Fine Young Cannibals.

This day to day dealing with artists led her to set up her own company, Rage Management. Over a 10 year period, Karen worked alongside artists such as The Orb and Lamb.

A full time move back to Manchester gave Karen the opportunity to project manage Manchester City Music Network, a chamber of commerce style organisation, giving advice, training, and funding to over 700 music sector businesses in Greater Manchester.

Karen Boardman is currently a Director of Crisis Management LLP, an award-winning artist management company based in Manchester. Crisis represented and managed the careers of several artists including Karima Francis (Vertigo Records), Rae Morris (Atlantic Records) and JP Cooper (Island Records) to name a few.

She was appointed Chair of the Music Business Development round table by GM Mayor Andy Burnham as part of the Greater Manchester Music Review 2019 and sits on the Manchester Music Cities Steering Group.